STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A day care matron honored three time for her work now faces criminal charges after being accused of accidentally leaving a 1-year-old boy unattended in her Clifton home for several hours yesterday afternoon.

Linda Bowen, 68, who runs a day care center out of her home on the 100 block of Roff Street, was arrested and held overnight after police found the boy unattended in a playpen just before 7:30 p.m. last night.

Advance file photoLinda Bowen is facing criminal charges after allegedly leaving a child unattended in her day care center.

She faces a single count of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, said William J. Smith, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.

Ms. Bowen didn’t realize the boy was still inside, when she left to go shopping, according to authorities.

When the boy’s father showed up at about 5:30 p.m., though, the house was locked, and he contacted police, court papers allege.

Ms. Bowen returned at about 7:30 p.m., and police found the boy safe inside, according to police.

"I went to the stores. I’m not sure how long I was gone for," Ms. Bowen told police, according to a law enforcement source. "Usually the kid who leaves last leaves earlier, and I forgot that one was still there."

The source told the Advance that Ms. Bowen was "very contrite" when she had realized what she had done.

"It seems like it was an honest, terrible mistake," the source said. "But it still meets the definition of a crime."

Advance records show Ms. Bowen was honored on at least three separate occasions by the Seamen’s Society Family Day Care Network, in 2009, 2004 and 2000.

According to city Health Department officials, Ms. Bowen has been operating a registered daycare center since July of 2000, and hasn’t been the subject of any past complaints. Health Department officials last inspected her home this past April, but found no violations.

After her arrest, an inspector is slated to make a follow-up visit, health department officials said.

Ms. Bowen is slated to be arraigned in Stapleton Criminal Court this afternoon.